Stop mechanism



H. B. KNOX STOP MECHANI SM Sept.- 17, 1935.

Filed Nov. 2S, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 HORACE B. KNOX mi A y INVENTOR.

BY fmgum@ ATTORNEY.

Sept. 17, 1935. H, B KNOX 2,014,574

STOP MECHANISM Filed Nov. 28, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sa +2 s 2.a 1:.11.

FIG. 2

I N V EN TOR.

BY HORACE E). KNOX pff/Maw ATTORNEY.

H. B. KNOX4 sToP MECHANISM Sept. vl 7, 1935.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 28, 1953 ATTORNEY.

H. B. KNOX STOP MECHANISM Sept. 17, 1935.

Filed Nov. 28, 1953 v5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY.

R O T N E V N H. B. IKNox STOP MECHANISM Sept. 17, 1935.

Filed Nov. 28, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. IO

INVENTOR. yHORACE B. KNOX ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. l?, i??

UHT

S'lI'lP MECHANHSMI Horace B. Knox, Belleville, N. lf., assigner to Alfred Hofmann, llnc., West New York, N. lf., a corporation of New .llersey Application November 28, i933, Serial No. '700,053

lll ii'llaims.

operation of full-fashioned knitting machines.

5 As is well known to those familiar with the art of producing full-fashioned hosiery, the fullfashioned machine for knitting the stocking fabric is characterized by the provision of 'a plurality of thread or yarn carriers for each similar l section of themachine, the number of such carriers employed in certain types of machine being as high as eight or more per section. Inasmuch as the full-fashioned machine may consist of as many as eighteen or more sections, it will be apparent that each machineis provided with eighteen or more groups of thread carriers. These thread carriers are supported by thread carrier bars which extend longitudinally of the machine and are caused to reciprocate in such 20 manner as to cause the thread carriers to travel back and forth to lay the thread in front of the sinkers and dividers which are respectively associated with the banks of needles of the several sections. It will be understood, of course, that 25 for each section of the machine one or more thread carriers may operate at a time to lay the thread in front of the sinkers and dividers and that each reciprocable thread carrier bar supports as many thread carriers as there are sec- 30 tions to the machine.

In order to limit the movement of the several thread carrier bars in either direction, suitable stops for each bar are ordinarily provided in the machine, the arrangement being such that as a particular thread carrier bar is shifted a predetermined distance to the right, it abuts one of the stops to limit its movement beyond that point.

Similarly, as said bar is shifted to the left, it abuts aloft-hand stop to limit its travel to the 40 left.

In one type of full-fashioned machine, such as the center controlled type, the thread carrier bar stops are arranged substantially at the center of the machine and are adapted for abut- 45 ting engagement with suitable stop elements fixed to and carried by the thread carrier bars whereby to limit the movement of the bars in one direction or the other. In another type of machine, such as the end controlled type, the stops 50 for limiting the travel of the thread carrier bars are arranged at either end of the machine and are ordinarily adapted for abutting engagement with the stop elements fixed to the ends of the bars. Either of these arrangements of stops may be employed, their principle of operation being the same in that they operate in each instance to limit the travel of the thread carrier bars in either direction. Those familiar with the art have long recognized the fact that as the thread carrier bars reo spectively abut their limiting stops, the impact results not only in a considerable shock and jar to themachine as a whole but also tends to cause the thread carrier bars to rebound to such ex-1 tent as to present the thread carriers supported lillv by the bar in interfering relation to the dividers, sinkers and needles, thus often causing injury to these rather delicate parts of the machine and damaging the fabric which is inthe course of being knitted. Especially is this true in the'case l5 of the modern relatively high speed machines,

it being obvious that as the machine is speeded up in operation, the speed of travel of the reciprocating thread carrier bars is increased, thus increasing the force of impact as the bars engage their respective stops and thereby increasing the tendency for all of the bars to rebound into positions Where they cause the thread carriers associated therewith to interfere with the proper operation of the sinkers, dividers and needles and so damage the latter and the fabric being knitted as well.

In addition to the foregoing, considerable difilculties have been encountered in connection with the mechanism which is generally employed in full-fashioned machines for imparting the necessary reciprocating movement to the thread carrier bars. The mechanism employed for this purpose comprises a longitudinally' reciprocable rod, known as the friction rod, upon which is mounted a friction box for each carrier bar, each friction box being provided with a laterally extending member adapted for engagement with a particular carrier bar. The reciprocatory travel of the friction rod being of a constant extent 40 always greater than the maximum travel of the carrier bars, the friction box operates to permit the friction rod to move longitudinally through the friction box when the latter is stopped as the rcarrier bar which is connected thereto reaches the limit of its movement in either direction.

In order to pull the carrier bar against its stop and retain it in that position, the friction box must of necessity tightly engage the friction rod because it will be apparent that if the frictional engagement between the friction box and friction rod is insucient to so retain the bar at the limit of its movement in either direction, the impact of the carrier bar against its stop will cause it to rebound with the disturbing results above noted.r

On the other hand, if the frictional engagement between the friction box and the friction rod is excessive, considerable strain is imposed not only upon the fashioning mechanism of the machine, but also upon the Coulier mechanism which is employed for bringing the snkers forward to form the loops upon the needles. Furthermore, a. considerable frictional engagement between the friction box and the friction rod, which has hitherto been considered essential in order to prevent rebound of the carrier bar, not only tends to destroy the uniformly even motion of the friction rod throughout the length of its travel, which is highly desirable, but also tends to twist the friction box angularly with respect to the friction rod when the movement of the former is stopped relatively to that of the latter, thus causing the carrier bar to twist out of its normal position or to otherwise become displaced.

While various attempts have been made from time to time and prior to this invention to remedy the above-noted difliculties, none of them have been entirely satisfactory and it is accordingly among the principal objects of this invention to avoid and eliminate the above noted diiiculties.

Thus, it is an important object of this invention to eliminate the necessity of an excessive frictional engagement between the friction box and the friction rod of the machine by th'e provision of means which automatically lock the carrier bars in position at the limits of their strokes in either direction, this means being so operative that only such frictional engagement between the friction box and the friction rod is employed as is necessary for the said rod to carry the friction box from one limit of its travel to the other, the friction rod being then quite free to continue its movement without interruption and without imposing any shock or jar upon the machine. In other words, the friction box, by means of this invention, is relieved of its heretofore function of holding the carrier bars against their limiting stops during the interval that the friction rod continues its movement beyond the stopping point of the friction box. The frictional engagement between the friction box and the friction rod being thus very materially reduced, the operating life of. the machine is increased, strains and stresses therein are reduced, a higher speed of operation is attainable, and less power is required for reciprocating the friction rod and accordingly the thread carrier bars.

Not only does the present invention render more efficient the operation of full-fashioned machines in general, but also it is particularly desirable and in fact practically indispensable in those cases where the full-fashioned machines are equipped with selector mechanisms wherein the aforesaid friction boxes are provided with one or more laterally projecting iingers automatically operative to selectively engage certain carrier'bars in a predetermined sequence. In machines employing this latter mechanism. it is an incident to the operation thereof that one or more of the thread carrier bars in operation are free from engagement with the friction box. Consequently, as the bar which is engaged with the friction box reaches the limit of its travel and impinges against its stop, the force of the impact tends to cause the free bars to bound out of. position.- Also, where the knitting machine is arranged to operate with two or more free carrier bars in temporarily arrested position, the impact of the stops against such free bars due to the movement of the stops during the narrowing operation causes the bars to be displaced relatively to their respective stops in consequence of which the bars are not in their proper starting positions. The foregoing not only results in grave danger of injury to the delicate parts of the machine and to the fabric being knitted, but it also prevents proper engagement of the selector finger with the next carrier bar t0 be actuated, it being understood in this connection that for proper operation of the selector mechanism, the selecting finger must readily register with a seat provided therefor in a particular bar. Obviously, if a particular bar is displaced and out of its normal starting position, the selecting finger for that bar cannot operatively engage it, The present invention has as one of its objects the provision of means for preventing such longitudinal displacement of the thread carrier bars relatively to their respective stops, this displacement being prevented not only when a bar impinges against its stop as it reaches the limit of its travel in either direction, but also when the stops are positionally adjusted during the operation of narrowing or widening the fabric as well as during the operation of racking the stops back to their initial position, the aforesaid means being operative to maintain the several thread carrier bars in positively coupled relation to their respective stops during the said positional adjustment of the latter, thereby insuring at all times proper registry of the several selector fingers with their respective seats on the bars.

A further general object of the present invention is the provision in a full-fashioned knitting machine of means operative to eifectually prevent not only the undesired rebound of particular thread carrier bar when it has reached the limit of its travel in one direction or another, but also the displacement of all other bars when subjected to shock caused by the impact of said particular carrier bar against its limiting stop.

A further and important object of the present invention is the provision in a full-fashioned machine of an arrangement of locking detents for the thread carrier bars, the arrangement being characterized by the fact that for each limiting stop there is provided an individually operable locking detent, these detents being respectively operable to engage the several thread carrier bars at the instant one of them reaches its limit of travel in a given direction whereby to lock all of the bars in position against movement.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of locking detents for any desired number of the thread carrier bars, two such detents being provided for each bar for respectively locking the bar in one or the other of two predetermined positions, the locking detents being arranged in groups and operative automatically to simultaneously release all of the bars from their locked position preliminarily to one of, said bars moving out of said position, the detents, as a group, being then immediately operative automatically to re-engage the remaining bars so as to restrain the latter from movement in company with the moving thread carrier bar.

From the foregoing, therefore, it will be apparent that it is a general object of the present invention to provide in a full-fashioned knitting machine, be it either legger, footer or single unit machine, a stop mechanism for controlling the operation 0f the thread carrier bars, this mechanism being so operative that as a particular bar strikes against its limiting stop, at either end thereof, the detent for that bar immediately and automatically engages the latter to prevent its rebound, and at the instant when said carrier bar is due to move in the reverse direction, all of the detents are automatically disengaged from their respective bars and remain so disengaged only for a time interval sufficient to permit said bar to move out of its locked position. In other words, this invention has as an object not only to prevent any movement or rebound whatsoever, at the instant of impact of a thread carrier bar against its limiting stop, of any thread carrier bar, but also to definitely and positively hold in fixed, predetermined position all of the thread carrier bars except that one of them which is in motion.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the combination, construction, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, as shown in the accompanying drawings and as finally pointed out in the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings which are merely illustrative ofy the principles of the invention, the invention has been shown as applied to full-fashioned machines of the center controlled and end controlled types, in the first ofy which types the stop mechanisms are located intermediate the ends of the thread carrier bars, while in the second type the stop mechanisms are located at the opposite ends of the thread carrier bars. The principle and operation 'of the invention is the same in both cases.

Also, it will 'be understood that while the invention has been illustrated as applied to a plurality of thread carrier bars, as where they are alternately or simultaneously employed to produce various effects in knitted fabrics by the use of different threads or yarns, the invention is equally applicable in those instances where only a single thread carrier bar is employed because even in the latter case it is essential to prevent the rebound of the bar in order to eliminate the liability of injury to the fabric and delicate instruments of the machine such as would be occasioned by any uncontrolled displacement of the bar from its normal position.

In the accompanying drawings:-

Figure l is a front elevation of a part of a full-fashioned fiat knitting machine of the center controlled type in which has been embodied the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the machine taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Figure 1, certain longitudinally extending parts of the machine beingl shown in transverse section;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the central portion of the machine showing only those parts of the machine which are necessary to illustrate and explain the principles and operation of the present invention;

Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the locking mechanism for the thread carrier bars, the view being of the right-hand mechanism and showing one of the locking detents in operative position to prevent the movement of its associated thread carrier bar from its position shown;

type of full-fashioned flat knitting machine wherein is embodied the present invention,'the machine illustrated being the end controlled type;

Figure 8 is a front elevational view of the upper right-hand end of the machine shown in Figure '7; -f

Figure 9 is a View taken substantially along the yline 9 9 of Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is an end elevational View of the machine shown in Figure '7 and showing only such details thereof as are necessary to understand the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1 to 6 thereof wherein the invention has been illustrated as being embodied in a full-fashioned flat knitting machine of the center controlled type, it will be observed that the thread carrier bars to which reference has heretofore been made are designated generally by the reference numeral lil, it being noted as is shown most clearly in Figure 2 that these thread carrier bars, which extend longitudinally through the entire length of the machine, are disposed in substantially parallel relation and at an elevation somewhat above and immediately to the rear of the longitudinally spaced' banks of needles il. It will be observed that in the machine of Figures l to 2, five thread carrier bars are employed, the number of which may be varied as desired, as from one to eight or more. It will be understood also that the following description is equally applicable to full-fashioned legger, footer or single unit machines which are exactly .alike in principle and differ from each other only in the mechanism for effecting the narrowing or widening of the fabric and in other minor attachments, none of which are affected by the present invention.

Inasmuch as the operation of the knitting machine considered as a whole, including the operation of the narrowing motion, and of the Coulier and friction mechanisms above mentioned, remain unaltered and unaffected by the present invention, except that the frictional engagement between the friction rod and the friction box (neither of which is shown) is reduced to a value merely sufficient to effect the necessary movement of the carrier bars, no attempt will be made herein to describe any parts of the knitting machine except such as relate peculiarly to and cooperate with the thread carrier bars. As appears quite clearly in Figure 2, each thread carrier bar has fixed thereto in longitudinally spaced relation a plurality of thread or yarn carriers i3, it being understood that in accordance with the well-established practice each of the bars l is provided with as many thread carriers I3 as there are sections (or needle banks Il) in the machine. The thread carriers i3 are of the usual type and are adapted to travel along their respective banks of needles in such manner that each carrier lays a course of thread along the needles. By means of the friction mechanism Well-known in the art, the longitudinally extending thread carrier bars l0 are caused to reciprocate lengthwise of the machine in consequence of which the thread carriers i3 which are fixed to the bars are likewise caused to travel along their respective banks ,of needles rst in one direction and then in the opposite direction.

In all full-fashioned flat knitting machines, either of the center controlled type or of the end controlled type, suitable means are ordinarily employed for limiting the movement of the several thread carrier bars I in either direction. In the normal operation of the knitting machine, the bars I0 and consequently the thread carriers I3 are reciprocated through a distance which is equivalent to the length of the needle bank II or the width of the fabric which is being knitted. T he means which are ordinarily employed for confining the travel of the thread carrier bars I0 to the width of the fabric being knitted are the stops I4, it being understood that one or more pairs of such stops are provided for each thread carrier bar, the stops for each bar being so arranged in longitudinally spaced relation that one stop serves to limit the movement of the thread carrier bar in one direction while the opposite corresponding stop serves to limit its movement in the opposite direction. These stops may be set at any desired points and ordinarily, means are provided for shifting these stops progressively or periodically for the purpose of shortening or lengthening the travel of the thread carrier bar during the operation of narrowing or widening the fabric. In the center controlled type of machine shown in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, the stops I4 are suitably supported within the opposed heads I5-I5, the latter being capable of movement toward and away from each other to-vary the relative positions of the stops during the operation of narrowing or widening the fabric. The mechanism for effecting the shifting of the heads I5-I5 is of the conventional type and inasmuch as a description of this narrowing mechanism is not essential to a full understanding of the present invention, such mechanism will not be described herein.

As is shown most clearly in Figure 3, three sets of left and right-hand stops I4 are shown, these stops being located intermediate the ends of the thread carrier bars for limiting the permissible movement of three of the intermediate thread carrier bars IIJ. Of course, it is customary to provide these limiting stops for each bar in the machine. However, only three of the bars have been shown as being provided with stops, this being deemed sufficient for explaining the present invention.

As appears most clearly in Figure 4, the stops I4, which extend substantially vertically through the heads I5-I5, are so disposed that when in operative position the lower ends thereof terminate immediately above the carrier bars I0 with which they are respectively operatively associated. Also, each pair of longitudinally spaced stops I4 are disposed substantially in the vertical plane of a carrier bar. Fixedly secured to each of the carrier bars I0, by means of the screws I6, are a pair of longitudinally spaced contact carriers I'I and I8, the contact carriers I'I being each provided with longitudinally adjustable contact members I S which are respectively adapted to abut against the left-hand group of stops I4, while the contact carriers I8 are each provided with similar contact members which are respectively adapted to abut against the right-hand group of stops I4. Thus, each carrier bar I0 is provided with a pair of contact members I9 and 20 which respectively abut the spaced stops I4-I4 for a particular carrier bar to limit the movement of the latter in either direction. As will be noted in Figure 3, the intermediate bars shown equipped with the stop mechanisms of the present invention are illustrated as being all in their extreme left-hand position, the contact members 20 of the contact carriers I8 being respectively in abutting relation with respect to their stops I4.

It will be apparent, as has already been pointed out, that with the machine operating at relatively high speed, the force or impact of the contact members I9 or 20 against their respective stops imparts a considerable shock or jar to the machine as a whole which is highly undesirable. Moreover, when one or the other of these contact members strikes against its particular stop, the force of the impact is such that the thread carrier bar tends to rebound from its extreme position in consequence of which the thread carriers I3 which are carried by that particular bar are caused to assume positions wherein they interfere with the normal operation of the sinkers, dividers and needles and quite frequently result in damage to these delicate instruments and to the fabric being knitted. Also, the shock caused'by the impacting carrier bar is transmitted to the adjoining free bars which are temporarily at rest with the result that these bars also become displaced, observations having shown that the displacement of these free bars often cause more damage than is caused by the friction engaged bar. These difficulties, as well as all of those above noted, are overcome by the present invention as will now be more particularly described.

As appears most clearly in Figures 2 and 4, each of the contact carriers I1 and I8 is provided at its outer end with an upstanding projection 2I, the upper extremities of these projections being beveled, as at 22. It will be observed that the projections 2| of the right-hand group of contact carriers I8 are oppositely beveled with respect to the projections 2I of the left-hand group of contact carriers I'I, this for a purpose which will be apparent hereinafter.

Suitably journalled within each of the opposed sliding heads I5-I5 is a transverse shaft 23. Fixed to the forward end of each shaft 23, as by the set screws 24, is a locking detent block 25. Inasmuch as these blocks extend in opposite directions, they are of necessity rightand left-hand counterparts of each other. However. in all other respects they are exactly alike and therefore only one of them (the right-hand one) will be described in detail. The block is provided at ythe rear edge thereof with an integral rearwardly rextending arm 26 which is adapted to overlie an extension 2'I of the sliding head I5 within which the block 25 is journalled, the arm 26 serving thus to maintain the block 25 normally in a position substantially paralleling the horizontal plane of the thread carrier bars I0. An adjusting screw 28 is provided in the arm 26 to adjust the position of the block with respect to the thread carrier bars I0, it being understood that the point of the screw 28 rests freely upon the upper surface of the extension 21 of the sliding head. It will be apparent that as the adjusting screw 28 is rotated in one direction or the other, the detent block 25 m-ay be angularly adjusted with respect to the horizontal and consequently the several detents raised or lowered with respect to the carrier bars.

Mounted within the block 25 are a plurality of identical detent holders 29. In the arrangement illustrated each block 25 is provided with three such detent holders. These detent holders are arranged in parallel relation and are adapted to be securely held fixed in position upon the block 25, provision being made, however, for individually adjusting the position of each holder longitudinally of the supporting block therefor. To this end, each detent holder 28 is provided with an elongated slot 30 in the body portion thereof which rests upon the block, and projected through each such slot for threaded engagement into the base of the supporting block is a screw 3| having an enlarged head 32. By loosening the screw 3I, of any particular detent holder, the latter may be shifted longitudinally of its supporting block within the limit of the enlongated slot 30. In order to effect this longitudinal adjustment, each detent holder 29 is coupled to the supporting block 25 by means of a double-ended screw 33 having a centrally disposed operating head 34. The opposite portions 0f each screw 33 are reversely threaded and are adapted to threadedly engage the supporting block 25 and detent holder, respectively, whereby upon rotating the op-erating head 34 of a particular screw 33 in one direction or the other, the corresponding detent holder may be shifted inwardly orA outwardly of its supporting block.

The free or outer end of each detent holder 29 is provided with an enlarged head 35 within which is slidably disposed a vertically arranged locking detent 36, the lower extremity of which is suitably beveled, as at 31, for coaction with the beveled projection 2I of the heretofore mentioned contact carrier. It will be understood, of Course that for each right hand locking detent there is a corresponding left-hand detent and that as many locking detents are employed upon each side of the machine as there are threadI carrier bars to be locked in position.

As appears most clearly in Figure 4, each locking detent 36 is provided with an extension or pin 38 to the outer extremity of which is secured one end of a coil spring 39, the opposite end of this spring being secured to a second pin 40 carried by the detent holder itself. The spring 39 thus functions to maintain the detents 36 in their depressed position, the detent being shown in this position in Figure 4.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that as the thread carrier bar III of Figure 4 is shifted to the left so that the contact abuts the stop I4, the projection 2I of the contact carrier I8 will ride under the detent 35 (the latter being lifted against the action of the spring 39) with the result that said bar irnmediately and automatically is positively locked in position against any possible rebound. Exactly the same result is obtained when the same carrier bar is shifted to the right, this by reason of the fact that the projection 2| of the contact carrier I1 rides under and is locked in position by the corresponding left-hand detent 36. Similar results are obtainable with each carrier bar equipped with the locking detents.

The mechanism for effecting the release of the thread carrier bars when one or the other thereof is ready to travel longitudinally of the machine to lay a course of thread across the needles will now be described. Fixed to the rear end of each of the shafts 23, as by a key or otherwise, is a lever 42, this lever being provided at the end thereof which is fixed to the shaft 23 with an arm 43. The free end of this arm 43 is connected, by means of a heavy coil spring 44, to a relatively fixed point on the machine, as at 45. The springs 44 thus function to normally maintain the levers 42 in their raised positions shown in Figure 1. n Also, inasmuch as the detent holder blocks are likewise respectively fixed upon the shafts 23-23, the springs 44 serve to normally maintain the said blocks 25 in their lowermost positions, that is, with the screws 28 of each block in engagement with the extension 21 of the slidable head I5. By rotating the right hand shaft 23 in counter-clockwise direction against the action of the coil spring 44, it will be apparent that the right hand block 25 may be lifted, thereby effecting the release of any of the thread carrier bars which may have been locked 5 in their left-hand position by the detents 36. Similarly, by rotating the left-hand shaft 23 in clockwise direction, the left hand block may be lifted to release the thread carrier bars which l may have been locked in their extreme right- 10 hand position.

This necessary rotation of the rightand lefthand shafts 23-23 is effected simultaneously so as to commonly and at the same instant lift all of the detents out of locking position, this 15 result being accomplished by the mechanism now to be described. Journalled for free oscillatory movement upon the shaft 4B (see more particularly Figure 2) extending longitudinally along the rear of the machine, is a lever 41 having the 20 forwardly extending arm 48 and the rearwardlyl extending arm 49. Journalled upon the forward free end of the arm 48 is a roller 50 which is adapted to rest upon and ride over the peripheral surface of the cam 5I which is carried by the 25 longitudinally shiftable shaft 52.

-The rear end of the arm 49 of the lever 41. is pivotally connected, as at 53, to a vertically extending rod 54 projecting upwardly through a xed guide member 55 secured to the machine 30 frame. Carried by the rod 54 and fixed thereto at an elevation somewhat above the upper surfaces of the sliding ,heads I5-I5, is a horizontally disposed cross arm 56. 'I'his cross arm 56 extends longitudinally of the machine and lies substantially in the vertical plane of the levers t2- 42. The bottom edge 51 of the cross arm is straight from end to end thereof and affords a continuous surface or track which engages the rollers 58-58 respectively journalled upon the 40 free upper ends of the levers 42-42 (see Figures 1 and 2). The length of the track 51 is of sufcient extent as to permit of its engagement bythe rollers 58--58 irrespective of the positions assumed by the sliding heads I5-I5, it being, of 45 course, understood that as these heads are shifted in position during the narrowing operation, the locking detent mechanisms and the stops for the thread carrier bars are likewise shifted. Accordingly, by means of the cross-arm 56, a connection is at all times maintained between the rod 54 and eachof the levers 42-42.

In the operation of the mechanisms just described, it will be understood that the cam 5I is of such design and is so timed with respect to 5 5 the other parts of the machine, in accord with usual practice, that during the time interval when a thread carrier bar is moving to lay the thread across the needles, all of the locking detents are in their depressed position. In other words, the detentholding block 25 is in its lowermost position. As a particular carrier bar reaches the limit of its movement in either direction, the upstanding projection 2| thereof rides under and is automatically locked in position by its associated detent 36. During this operation, the roller 50 of the lever 41 is in engagement with the low surface 59 of the cam 5I.

At the instant when a thread carrier bar is due to move out of its locked position, presents its high spot 60 beneath the roller 50 in consequence of which the lever 41 is rocked about its pivot to depress the rod 54 and the cross arm 56 carried by the latter, thereby actuating the 1evers 42-42 to lift the detent homer mocks 75 the cam 5I 70 i 25 and so eiect the disengagement of all of the detents from their respective thread carrier bars. The blocks 25 remain thus lifted only for a time interval sufcient to permit a particular thread carrier bar to commence its movement out of locked position and immediately after the projection 2| of said thread carrier bar passes freely beyond its associated locking detent 36, the blocks 25 are again depressed to again lock in position all of the thread carrier bars except that one which is in motion. Thus, it will be understood that except for the instant when a particular thread carrier bar which is due to move is being released for such movement (this being only while the high spot 60 of the cam 5| is in engagement with the roller 50) all but one of the thread carrier bars are positively locked in stationary position and even that bar which is in motion is automatically and positively locked against all possibility of rebound immediately as it reaches the limit of its movement in either direction.

Figures 7 to 10, inclusive, illustrate the invention as applied to a full-fashioned flat bar knitting machine of the end controlled type wherein the stops for limiting the travel of the thread carrier bars are located at opposite ends of the machine, instead of in the center thereof as in the machine previously described. In the knitting machine of Figures 7, et seq., eight thread carrier bars are employed, as for example in a legger or single unit machine, these bars being designated generally by the reference numeral 6|. Inasmuch as the stop mechanism to be presently described is the same at each end of the machine, only the right-hand arrangement has been shown and will be described herein, it being understood that the left-hand arrangement is a counterpart of that shown and described. Also, it will be understood that the left and right stop mechanisms operate conjointly to control the movement of the thread carrier bars in either direction, to prevent their rebound as they impinge against their respective stops and to relieve the friction mechanism of its heretofore function of holding the carrier bars against their respective stops, the principle of operation being identical with that of the machine heretofore described.

The stops 62 against which the several thread carrier bars 6| impinge are mounted within the usual sliding carriage 63, the latter being shiftable progressively or periodically for the purpose of shortening or lengthening the traversing movement of the thread carrier bars during the narrowing or widening operation. It is to be noted that in the machineef Figure 7, the thread carrier bars 6| are limited in their travel by stops 62 disposed at opposite ends of the carrier bars, the latter being provided with suitable adjustable stop elements adapted to impinge against the stops, this being different from the arrangement previously described wherein the carrier bars themselves pass freely beneath the centrally disposed stops and are provided with raised contact members for respectively abutting the stops.

Suitably xed to each of the thread carrier bars 6| which it is ldesired to lock in position is an elongated detent bar 64. In the arrangement illustrated, three of the thread carrier bars are equipped with these detent bars and, as appears most clearly in Figure 8, each detent bar lies immediately above and in the vertical plane of its associated thread carrier bar and is provided adjacent its said outer end with a notch 65, this notch being provided with a definite vertically disposed shoulder 66 at the outer end of its inclined surface 6l.

Suitably mounted upon the sliding carriage 63 is the detent holder block 68 which is substantially like the block 25 of the previously described arrangement in that it is provided with a plurality of longitudinally adjustable detent holders 69. One detent holder is provided for each of the detent bars 64, each detent holder being provided with a vertically disposed detent 69 which is similar in all respects to the detents 36 of the previously described arrangements. 'I'he detents 69 are normally maintained in their depressed positions (as shown in Figure 8) by the coil springs 18. Carried by each detent 69 is a laterally extending lifting finger or pin Provided upon the sliding carriage 63 is a short upstanding pedestal 12 in which is journalled a rock shaft '|3. Secured, as by means of the set screw 74a, to the shaft |3 is a lever arm 14, this latter being provided at its free end with a transversely extending rod |5' which is adapted to underlie and commonly engage all of the pins 1| of the detents 69. Interconnecting the free end of the lever arm 14 and the inner end of a longitudinally extending rock bar l5 is a rod or link 16, the connection 'll between the link 76 and the rock bar 'l5 being a loose one. A tension spring 'I8 also interconnects the free end of the lever arm 'i4 and the rock bar 15 to prevent any undue play and to take up the slack between these parts. The rock bar 'l5 is pivoted to the side of the sliding carriage 63, the portion of this bar which extends to the right of its pivot being of a length suflicient to permit a constant connection between this portion 88 and the actuating rod 8| therefor for any position of the carriage 63.

The said actuating rod 8| is adapted for vertical movement through a suitable guide 82 provided therefor upon the front of the machine frame, the lower end of this rod 8| being pivotally connected, as at 83, to a lever 84. This lever 84 is pivoted upon the frame of the machine, as at 85, and is provided intermediate its ends with a cam roller 86. lever 84 is connected to a fixed point 8l of the machine frame by a relatively heavy coil spring 88.

Keyed or otherwise xed to the longitudinally shiftable main shaft 89 of the machine is a cam 90 upon which is adapted to rest the cam roller 86 of the lever 84, the spring 88 serving normally to maintain the roller 86 in constant operative engagement with the cam. It will be apparent that with the roller engaging the low spot 9| of the cam, the spring 88 maintains the lever 84 in depressed position (as shown in Figure l0), in consequence of which the rod 8| is depressed, the rock bar 15 is oscillated in clockwise direction about its pivot, the lever arm 'I4 is raised, and the detents 69 are lifted out of their locking position against the action of their individual springs '10. The low su-rface 9| of the cam 90 thus functions in the manner of the high sur- 6 face 60 of the cam 5| in the previously described arrangement.

It will be understood, of course, that the cam roller is in engagement with the low spot 9| of the cam 90 only for a predetermined interval of time, this time interval being merely sufiicient l to permit the release of the detents 69 from vtheir associated detent bars 64 at the instant when a particular thread carrier bar is due to move out of its locked position, the lower ends of the several detents 69 being respectively adapted for seating engagement within the notches 65 of the several detent bars. During the time interval when the cam roller 86 is in engagement with the high spot 92 of the cam Sil, the detents 69 remain in their depressed, that is, locking position and are only lifted out of said position against the action of their springs 10 as the thread carrier bars approach the limit of their travel in one direction or the other, it being understood in this connection that the upper end of each detent bar 64 is so shaped complementallyV to that of the lower end of its associated detent 69 as topermit the detent bar to readily pass under the detent so as to permit the latter to seat itself in locking position within the notch '65. The high spot on the cam roller 86 functions in the manner of the low spot 59 of the cam 5l in the previously described arrangement.

As in the arrangement previously described, itA

will be understood that during the time interval when a thread carrier bar is moving to lay the thread across the needles, all of the locking detents 69 are in their depressed position, this being effected by the cam 86 lifting the rod 8l so that it is not operative upon the rock bar 15. As a particular carrier bar reaches th; limit of its movement in'either direction, the outer end of the detent rides` under and is automatically and positively locked in position by its associated detent 69.

At the instant when a thread carrier bar is due tomove out of its locked position, the cam 9|! presents its low spot 9| beneath the cam roller 86 (as shwn in Figure 10 in consequence of which the rod 8l is lowered `and the rock bar 15 is oscillated in clockwise direction to actuate the lever arm 14 to raise al1 of the detents 69. It will be seen therefore that in every essential respect the operation of the mechanism as applied to the machine of Figure 7 is identical with that of the locking mechanism as applied to the machine of Figure 1.

It will be understood that the hereinbefore mentioned stops I4 shown and described in connection with the center controlled type of machine illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, and the stops 62 shown and described in connection with the end controlled type of machine iliustrated in Figures 7 to 10, are the usual main stops with which the machines are customarily equipped for limiting the travel of the thread carrier bars to coincide with the width of the fabric being knitted. In addition to these main stops, the machines (of either type) may be equipped with auxiliary stops (not shown) in accordance with the well-known practice for limiting the travel of certain of the thread carrier bars to distances less than the Width of and between points located within the selvedged edges of the fabric, these auxiliary stops being employed, for example, during the operations of splicing, plaiting and reinforcing certain parts oA the fabric being knitted. Of course, it will beu erstood that the present invention is equally applicable to these auxiliary stops, and that the terms stop or stops appearing in the appended claims refer not only to the main stops but alsoto the auxiliary stops of the machine. It will be'appreciated therefore that the location of the detent mechanism is not necessarily restricted to the positions shown in the drawings but instead may be positioned at other desired points for coaction with the said auxiliary stops of the machine.

The invention, of course, is susceptible of vari- A release all of the bars from their locked posious other changes and modications from time to time without departing from the real spirit or general' principles thereof and it is accordingly intended to claim the same broadly, as Well as specically, as indicated by the appended a tain of said bars, said detents being arranged in 15 l longitudinally spaced groups whereby to provide one detent in each group for each of said certain bars, a block Within which said detents are respectively slidably supported, means carried by each of said certain bars for coaction with said 20 detents in such manner that' as any one of said certain bars reaches the limit of its travel in a given direction one of the detents for said bar engages said means to lock the said bar positively in position, means insuring individual 25 operation of said detents for locking said bars respectively in position, and means automatically operative to commonly lift all of the detents out of locking position at the instant just prior to the movement of one of said certain bars longi- 30 tudinally of the machine, said last-mentioned means being further operable automatically to cause all of said locking detents to assume their locked position immediately after any-one of said certain bars has been released from its locked 35 position and has commenced its movement longitudinally of the machine whereby to lock all but the said moving bar in xed position.

2. In a full-fashioned knitting 'machina in combination, a plurality of longitudinally reciprocable thread carrier bars, stop means adjustable relatively to each other for the extent of travel of said bars, said bars being adapted to impinge against one or the other of said stop means for limiting their travel in either 45 direction, a pair of detent engaging members carried by any certain one or more of said bars and arranged in longitudinally spaced relation. a spring pressed slidable detent for each of said detent engaging members, said detents being positionally adjustable longitudinally of the carrier bars together with as well as independently of said stop means and being respectively operative to engage the detent engaging members for locking in fixed position the said certain bars as the latter respectively reach the limits of their travel in either direction, and means operable automatically to instantaneously and in unison tion preliminarily to permitting one of said bars to move longitudinally of the machine.

3. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, in combination, a plurality of thread carrier bars adapted to reciprocate longitudinally of the machine, spring pressed latch means operatively associated with certain of said bars for preventing their displacement from a predeterminedly xed position at the instant one of said bars reaches the limit of its travel in either direction, said means being individually operable to lock each bar in position as it reaches the limit-of its travel in a given udirection and being further adapted for actuation in unison to release all of the bars at a given instant, and means for eiectlng the release of said latch means from said bars for a time interval only suiicient to permit one of said bars to move out of its locked position.

4. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, in combination, a plurality of thread carrier bars adapted to reciprocate longitudinally of the machine, spring pressed latch means operatively associated with certain of said bars for preventing their displacement from a predeterminedly xed -position at the instant one of said bars reaches the limit of its travel in either direction, said means being individually operable to lock each bar in position as it reaches the limit of its travel in a given direction and being further adapted for actuation in unison to release all of the bars at a given instant and for a time interval only sullicient to'permit one of said bars to move out of its locked position, and means for individually adjusting each of said latch means lengthwise ofthe direction of travel of the carrier bars and relatively to the aforesaid predeterminedly xed positions of said bars.

5. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, in combination, a plurality of thread carrier bars adapted to reciprocate longitudinally of the machine, a plurality of latching detents operatively associated with certain of said bars for preventing the displacement of the latter when one of the bars reaches the limit of its travel in either direction, a tension spring operative upon each detent for normally maintaining it in depressed,

position, said detents being thereby rendered individually operable to lock each bar in position as it reaches the limit of its travel in a given direction, said latching detents being further adapted for actuation in unison to release all of the bars at a given instant during a time interval only suicient to permit one of said bars to move' out of its locked position, means operable automatically to 4effect said concurrent operation of the latching detents as a group as well as to effect the concurrent return thereof into locking position immediately after the said released bar has commenced its movement longitudinally of the machine.

6. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, in combination, a plurality of thread carrier bars adapted to reciprocate longitudinally of the machine, a plurality of latching detents operatively associated with certain of said bars for preventing the displacement of the latter when one of the bars reaches the limit of its travel in either direction, a tension spring operative upon each detent for normally maintaining it in depressed position, the said detents being thereby rendered individually operable to lock each bar in position as it reaches the limit of its travel in a given dlrection, said latching detents being further adapted for actuation in unison to release all of the `bars at a given instant during a time interval only suilicient to permit one of said bars to move out of its locked position, means operable automatically to effect said concurrent operation of the latching detents as a group as well as to effect the concurrent return thereof into locking position immediately after the said released bar has commenced its movement longitudinally of the machine, and means for adjusting the normal depressed position of said locking detents with re- .spect to the carrier bars.

7. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, in combinationl a plurality of longitudinally reciprocable thread carrier bars, longitudinally spaced stops associated with each of said bars to limit the extent of travel thereof in either direction, a plurality of rectilinearly slidable locking detents operatively associated with certain of said 5 bars, said detents being arranged in longitudinally spaced groups whereby to provide one detent in each group for each of said certain bars, a pivoted block within which said detents are respectively slidably supported, means carried by each of said certain bars for coaction with said detents in such manner that as any one of said certain bars reaches the limit of its travel in a given direction one of the detents for said bar engages said means to lock the said bar positively in position, means insuring individual operation of said detents for locking said bars respectively in position, and means automatically operative to swing said block about its pivot whereby to commonly lift all of the detents out of locking position at the instant just prior to the movement of one of said certain bars longitudinally of the machine.

8. In a full-fashioned knitting machine having a plurality of reciprocable thread carrier bars, an arresting mechanism for the bars including a pivotally mounted supporting block for a plurality of similar bar-engaging detents, a plurality of detents slidably mounted upon said block in substantially parallel relation, a tension spring for each detent to normally maintain the latter in bar-engaging position, and means for swinging said block about its pivot whereby to lift said detents out of bar-engaging position.

9. In a full-fashioned knitting machine having a plurality of longitudinally reciprocable thread carrier bars and positionally adjustable narrowing carriages in which are provided stops for limiting the movement of 'said bars in either direction, a supporting member pivoted upon each of said carriages and swingable toward and from 40 the horizontal plane of said bars, a plurality of spring-pressed detents mounted in said pivoted member and adapted respectively to engage and lock in position certain of said bars, means 0perative normally to maintain said pivoted member in depressed position whereby said springpressed detents operate individually to engage its corresponding bar as the latter reaches the limit of its stroke, and means operative automatically to shift said pivoted member about its pivot whereby to effect the simultaneous disengagement of all of said detents from their respective bars.

lu. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, in combination, a longitudinally reciprocable thread carrier bar, a stop for limiting the travel of said bar in a given direction, a mounting for a barengaging detent movable toward and away from the path of movement of said bar, a spring-pressed bar-engaging detent slidable within said mounting and normally extending into said path of movement of the bar and adapted to engage the bar simultaneously as the latter strikes said stop whereby to prevent any rebound of said bar, and means operable automatically to shift said mounting away from said bar whereby to disengage the detent from the bar just prior to the instant when the latter commences its return movement, said detent being shifted into retracted position against the action of its spring by the bar only as the latter moves toward its limiting stop.

HORACE B. KNOX. 

